London Metropolitan Visa License Revoked

London Metropolitan University has lost its right to recruit and sponsor international students from outside of the EU and will no longer be able to authorise visas.

According to the UK Border Agency, London Met is not doing enough to check that bogus students are not entering the country, with at least 61 per cent of the randomly selected files proving problematic. 

‘UKBA found systemic failures that meant that London Met had not been able to ensure the appropriate admission and tracking of students from abroad’ said Damian Green, the Immigration Minister. With student visas making up about 40 per cent of all immigration, the agency sees this as a deep public concern.

But such actions have sparked controversy, landing the government under fire, particularly at the start of the new academic year. Current students of the University have been left with just 60 days after formal notification to find a new institution or face deportation. 

Yet London Met remains resilient and is ‘fundamentally contesting’ the UKBA’s decision, insisting on launching legal action against the UK Border Agency's decision in a bid to defend their reputation and their 2,700 students affected.
According the vice-chancellor of the University, Professor Malcolm Gillies, ‘London Met will fight this revocation, which is based on a highly flawed report by the UKBA.’ 

Those students affected at the University have been promised to be given ‘top priority’ so they can complete their degrees. Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn has called on the Damian Green to let the international students already enrolled in the University to at least be able to finish their studies.

All returning or joining International students of Plymouth University have been informed that such a decision will not affect their education with the University and after audits in July, Plymouth University continues to hold Highly Trusted Sponsor status.